What’s in a name…

Unprecedented warming and the ‘Hockey Stick’ controversy

Current atmospheric change at unprecedented rates

Greenhouse gases (ice cores) correlate to warming trends

Dutch Elfstedentocht: February 1985

464 months since any month was colder than average

Back to the race…..

How warm has is gotten?

https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5137/


This past July was the hottest month every recorded. July 2023 was 0.24 degrees Celsius (C) warmer than any other July in NASA’s record

Physical impacts of climate change are visible

The September 2023 Artic sea ice minimum is the 6th lowest and Antarctic maximum is is the lowest on record by a wide margin.

Warming and sea ice melt might now be decoupled…..

The argument for humans as the culprit (pop’n = 7.98 billion)

Haber-Bosch process (1909) and human population

Greenhouse gases: Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Global Change and Water are intimately linked


Global Change: Fresh Water Scarcity for 2/3’s of the world

Global Change: Ocean acidification has multiple feedbacks

Global Change: Sea Level Rise

Climate Change Resilience is Related to Affluency

Countries with darker colors have greater potential for climate resiliency
Affluence = an abundant supply of money, goods, property, wealth

Resilient countries often are responsible for more emissions

Paris Climate Agreement


  • Accord between nation in UN to address climate change


  • Goal to keep increase in global temperature below 2 °C
    • pursue efforts to limit increase to 1.5
    • pursue net zero emissions


  • Contributions by country determined by that country
    • no emissions targets or dates
    • must go beyond current efforts
    • framework for transparency

Are targets of the Paris Climate Agreement reachable?

What should we do….



  • If CO2 emissions stopped today:
    • 50% absorbed by land/water in 30 yrs
    • 30% in atmosphere for centuries
    • 20% in atmosphere for 1000 yrs


  • Future warming is inevitable
    • land sinks uncertain
    • ocean sinks weakening


  • Negative emissions technologies (carbon capture) are in start up phases